Gnats shut out Rome in final home game of 2009

The Savannah Sand Gnats played their final home game of the 2009 season 0n Sunday afternoon shutting out the Rome Braves, 2-0.
Starting Sand Gnat pitcher, Jeurys Familia, became the 1st Gnat pitcher to win 10 games. He struggled in the 1st inning giving up a hit and walking two and pitched behind in the count. Familia settled down and pitched 5 innings, gave up 6hits, no runs, 5 strike outs, and 3BB.
The Gnats scored their first run in the second inning when Eric Campbelled doubled and moved to third on Nick Giarraputo's single. Michael Moras hit a scracrifice fly to right field scoring Campbell.
In the third inning, Evan Leblanc led off with a single, and Wilmer Flores singled moving LeBlanc to third. Josh Satin flied to center, scoring LeBlanc from third.
Gnat reliever, Mike Lynn entered the game in the 6th inning and gave up 0 hits, no runs, 0BB and struck out three. Jimmy Johnson closed out the nineth inning retiring the three batters he faced.
For the game the Gnats had 7 hits. Both Evan LeBlanc and Nick Giarrputo went 2for3. Both Satin and Campbell doubled.

Gnats beat Braves,6-2 to even the series at 1-1.

The Savannah Sand Gnats won the second game of the series with the Rome Braves, 6-2 Saturday night.
The Braves started their 1st round 2009 draft pick from Vanderbilt, Mike Minor, who looked good in his limited performance. The lefty went 4 innings, allowed 3 hits, no walks, 4 strike outs and gave up 1 earned run. He lost his first game.
Gnat starter, Kyle Allen, had another quality outing. He had a seasons-high 9 strike outs. Allen pitched 6.2 innings, alowed 3 hits, 1BB and gave up 1 run. He won the game improving his record to 9-6.
In the first inning, the Gnats scored one run. Josh Satin doubled and went to third on Ratliff's ground out. Eric Campbell doubled scoring Satin.
The Gnats scored 5 runs in the 5th inning. Raul Reyes singled. Luis Alen walked and Jose Jimenez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Josh Satin walked and a run scored. Sean Ratliff walked and a run scored. Eric Campbell doubled and three runs scored.
Reliever, Brad Burns entered the game in the 7th inning and pitched 2.1 innings. He gave up 1 run on 4 hits, struck out 6, and did not walk anyone.
Eric Campbell drove in 4 runs with his two doubles. He also made two outstanding fielding plays at third base.

Rome wins opener over Gnats,5-2

The Savannah Sand Gnats opened a three game series with the Rome Braves Friday night.The Gnat relievers were not able to stop the Braves, who won 5-2. The Gnats had 10 hits and left 12 men on base.
Starting Gnat pitcher, Eric Beaulic, entered the game leading the Gnat pitchers with the most strikeouts (113) and completed 6 innings and added 11 more strikeouts to his total. He gave up 8 hits,1BB, and 2 runs(earned). Beaulic was effective when he threw his curve ball around the knees. The 11 strikeouts was a career-high for Beaulac.
The Gnats scored their two runs in the 3rd inning. Evan LeBlanc was hit by a pitch leading off the inning. After two fly outs to left, Sean Ratliff singled moving LeBlanc to third. Eric Campbell walked to load the bases. Raul Reyes singled to score LeBlanc and Ratliff.
Wilmer Flores went 2for 4. Nick Giarraputo continued his hot hitting going 2for4 and raising his average to.415-he has had at least one hit in every game he has played(10). Michael Moras caught his 3rd game and was 2for3 raising his average to.545.
With the score tied at 2 all, Phillips Orta took the mound in the 7th inning to replace Beaulac.
Orta pitched 1.1 innings, walked 3, allowed 2 runs and took the loss(1-3). John Church followed Orta giving up 1 run on two hits, two wild pitches, in 1.2 innings.
The picture of Eric Beaulac was taken at a recent golf tournament.

Gnats beat GreenJackets,5-1 to win 2 out of 3 for the series.

The final game of the three game series between the Augusta GreenJackets and the Savannah Sand Gnats was played Thursday evening at Grayson Stadium. The Sand Gnats beat the GreenJackets,5-1 to win two out of three games for the series.
Armando Rodriquez first start of the season as a Gnat was very impressive. He gave up his only hit of his 5.2 outing in the fourth inning after two outs. Rodriquez gave up 1 run(ER), 4BB and had 9 strikeouts. In the 6th he would leave the game after walking the bases loaded. Reliever Rhiner Cruz walked the first batter he faced to give the GreenJackets their only run of the game. Cruz went 2.1 innings, gave up 1 hit, 0 runs, 1BB and one strikeout. Jimmy Johnson pitched the nineth and gave up 1 hit and and struck out the last two batters he faced.
The Gnats had 11 hits for the game. Raul Reyes had a triple and a single, Michael Moras had two singles, Nick Giarraputo singled and doubled. Sean Ratliff and Eric Campbell each doubled.
Legendary "Frank the Beer Man" attended the game with his wife,Cathy. Frank worked at Grayson for 14 years. It was his birthday and the 2,974 fans sang Happy Birthday to Frank.

Gnats edge GreenJackets, 4-3 in 11 innings

The Savannah Sand Gnats had to rally in the second game of the series with the Augusta GreenJackets to win 4-3 in 11 inning.
Starting pitcher for Augusta, Andrew Reichard, pitched 7 innings and gave up 4hits, no runs and struck out seven. Gnats starter, Robert Carson, pitched 5 innings, gave up 1 run(earned), 4 hits, and struck out four. Carson had to pitch out of several jams.
The Gnats threatened in the first when Jefry Marte singled and advanced to second on a ground out. Sean Ratliff singled and Marte raced from second and was taged out on a close play sliding into home. Marte did not return to the field and was replaced at 3rd by Eric Campbell.
In the 9th inning, Sand Gnats sent 9 batters to the plate. One base on balls and 5 singles produced 3 runs to tie the game and extend to extra innings.
Wilmer Flores won the game for the Gnats in the 11 inning when he singled and Josh Satin scored from second to win the game.
Sean Ratliff went 4for 5 -he hit four singles, stole a base and scored a run. Nick Giarraputo continued his hot hitting-he singled in the fifth inning. Catcher Mike Moras played his first game as a Gnat and had two singles. The GreenJackets tested Moras throwing arm by stealing 5 bases-he threw out one runner.
Gnats relievers, Mike Lynn pitched 4 innings gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and John Church pitched two scoreless innings and did not give up a hit. Church got the win(1-2)
Leaving the game , I saw New York Mets General Manager, Omar Minaya, walking down the steps talking to fans and heading for the Savannah Sand Gnats locker room.

GreenJackets open series with win over Gnats, 4-3in 10 innings

The Savannah Sand Gnats returned home to Grayson Stadium Tuesday evening to complete their final home stand for the 2009 season. The first game of a three game series was won by the Augusta GreenJackets, 4-3 in ten innings.
The Gnats scored all of their runs in the first inning. Jefry Marte singled and moved to second when Eric Campbell reached first on an error. Wilmer Flores singled to load the bases. First baseman Nick Giarraputo, who entered the contest with a .435 batting average, hit a single driving in Marte from third. Jean Luc Blaquiere hit a single, driving in runners from second and third.
The Gnats had six hits for the game-four hits came in the first inning. Giarraputo had another single starting off the 10 inning but was left stranded. Sand Gnats left 11 men on base.
Starting pitcher Jeurus Familia pitched five innings: giving up 7 hits, 3 runs(2 earned), 6 strikeouts, and hit two batters. Phillips Orta and Jimmy Johnson pitched in relief (3.2 innings)and combined efforts giving up 1 hit and no runs. Rhiner Cruz took the loss for the Gnats- he gave up one run in the 10 inning.
Augusta comitted five errors for the game.
The picture of Jean Luc Blaquiere was taken at a recent golf tournament. Jean Luc left the game in the bottom of the third when Luis Alen ,catcher, batted for starting catcher.

Carlos Guzman as a Sand Gnat

Enjoyed reading about Carlos Guzman in one of the articles. Guzman joined the Savannah Sand Gnats 0n May 14, 2008 and hit a home run in his first at-bat as a Sand Gnat. During the 2008 season, he appeared in 84 games, batted .269, 8 home runs, 33 RBI's, and SLG.405. Carlos was very friendly with the fans-his outgoing personality made him one of the fan favorites. Hope he continues to improve and that next year he gets promoted from Lucy to Binghamton(AA).

Sand Gnats win over Shorebirds in finale game, 3-1

The 2,141 fans at Grayson Stadium Monday night saw good pitching, good fielding , and timely hitting as the Savannah Sand Gnats beat the Delmarva Shorebirds 3-1.
Third baseman Jefry Marte drove in two of the Sand Gnats three runs-his double in the eight inning drove in the go-ahead run for the Gnats. Catcher Jean Luc Blaquiere hit two doubles. Eric Campbell , back in action after several games absence, hit a double.
Starting Gnat pitcher, Kyle Allen, had a good outing pitching 5.2 innings: he gave up 3hits, no runs, 3BB and struck out 7. Phillips Orta pitched 2 innings in relief and gave up a run. Closer Rhiner Cruz pitched 1.1 innings , giving up 3hits, no runs and won the game(3-2).
Gnat left fielder, Evan LeBlanc, in the 9th inning, made two diving catches for the 2nd and 3rd outs to help the Sand Gnats even up the four game series with the Shorebirds, 2-2.

Shorebirds edge Gnats in 2nd game of the double header,4-3

The Delmarva Shorebirds edged the Sand Gnats in the second game of the double header,4-3. Starting Sand Gnat pitcher, Eric Beaulac, had a shaky second inning in which he gave up 3 singles, one walk, and one wild pitch-he did strike out the side. Beaulac completed 5 innings, giving up 7 hits, 3 earned runs, 3BB and 6 strikeouts. Brad Burns pitched two innings in relief and took the loss(0-1)
The Sand Gnats scored their first run in the 3rd inning when catcher Luis Alen singled and later scored from 3rd base when Wilmer Flores hit a sacrifice fly.
Josh Satin led off the 4th inning with a double and scored when Raul Reyes followed with a triple. Evan LeBlanc grounded out to score Reyes.
In the 6th inning, the Gnats had runners on third and second with no outs, but could not score.
The announced attendance for the doubleheader was 2,473.

Shorebirds beat Gnats in the 1st game of double header, 4-2

The first game of the double header between the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Savannah Sand Gnats was won by Delmarva 4-2.
Starting pitcher for Delmarva, Ryan O'Shea won his 8th game of the season. He pitched 6 innings, giving up 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 1BB, and 5 strikeouts.
Chris Schwinden started for the Gnats and took the loss- his record is now(8-6). He pitched 6.1 innings and did not give up a hit until the 5th inning. Schwinden allowed 5hits, 2BB, 4 earned runs and 5 strikeouts.
In the 5th inning, Wilmer Flores hit a single, followed by Sean Ratliff"s 15 home run of the year, a shot over the right-center field wall. The other three hits for the Gnats were singles by, Reyes, LeBlanc, and Jimenez.
Home plate umpire, Jeff Klinghoffer, was hit in the face mask on a foul tip and had to leave the game. Starting the 5th inning, both teams had to furnish base umpires for the remainder of the doubleheader.
Ex- Met pitcher, Al Jackson, attended the doubleheader.

Gnats rally in the 9th to edge Shorebirds, 5-4

The Delmarva Shorebirds were in Savannah last night for the first time this year for a four game series with the Sand Gnats. The Shorebirds, an affiliate with the Baltimore Orioles, are based in Salisbury, Maryland.
Starting pitcher for the Sand Gnats, Robert Carson, was looking for his 9th victory of the year. The radar gun clocked his fast ball in the 89-92 range. He had several 3-2 counts and he was able to pitch out of several jams. Carson pitched 5 innings, gave up 1 run(earned), 5 hits, 2BB and 5 strikeouts.
The Sand Gnats scored a run in the first when Josh Satin doubled scoring Jefry Marte from second who singled to start out the inning.
In the 5th inning, Wilmer Flores hit a line drive down the third base line which bounced off the wall which looked like a double scoring Jimenez from second. Home plate umpire ruled the ball fair-the umpires got together and the call was reversed and called it a foul ball. Manager Edgar Alfonzo argued vehemently and was ejected from the game. A fan in the stands stated"Manager Alfonzo showed the most energy on the field tonight". When Flores returned to bat, he hit a pop fly to the first baseman to end the inning-in frustration Flores threw his batting helmet to the ground and he was ejected by the home plate umpire.
In the bottom of the 9th, with runners on second and third, two outs, and the score tied at 4, catcher Jean Luc Blaquiere hit a line drive over the center fielders head scoring Satin from third with the winning run. The catcher had two singles for the game and Jose Jimenez DH hit two singles.
Rhiner Cruz, who pitched in the 9th inning for the Gnats, won the game, his second win of the season